Development of a process for the temporary coating of elastic floorings based on modified photocatalytic metal oxides for improving the sustainability of cleaning and disinfection
IGF 15110 N
In Germany annually approx. 500.000 to 800.000 nosocomial infections are caused by a lack of hygiene, which lead to about 30.000 to 70.000 deaths based on frequently appearing antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. This causes an economic damage of more than 2 billion €. RKI (Robert-Koch Institute) and leading hygiene experts recommend a prevention of nosocomial infections by a selective disinfection procedure of the patient-related area and a hygiene-controlled patient far area. Therefore the transfer of human-pathogenic germs and cross-contaminations must be avoided. For this reason the cleaning and disinfection of surfaces is essentially important: Investigations of nosocomial infections have shown, that the optimisation of the multi-barrier-system with the disinfection of surfaces including the disinfection of floorings is one of the essential strategies of prevention. The latest RKI guideline about surface cleaning and disinfection differentiates certain areas into categories with “special infection risk”, “possible infection risk” and “without infection risk”. Now only lecture-rooms, stairways, etc. belong to the category “without infection risk”; general stations and outpatient clinics are already considered to be “possibly risky”. According to RKI such areas need to be disinfected systematically a) if there is a recognizable contamination, b) in the context of a terminal disinfection, c) in outbreak situations as well as d) if special germs occur; even patient-far surfaces must be included then. It’s obvious, that appropriate cleaning and disinfection of surfaces reduce nosocomial infections. The cleaning and disinfection of floorings is particularly important, because they build the largest part of all surfaces (and their contamination potential regarding germs is much higher than the contamination potential of other surfaces). Due to the permanent use a rapid re-contamination with germs after each cleaning and disinfection cycle occurs. This re-contamination is caused by the fact, that the current cleaning and disinfections processes are not sustainable, because the biocides don’t remain on the surface and are no longer effective after each disinfection cycle. During the project a temporary coating for floorings with photocatalytically active metal oxides was developed, which reduces 1-2 orders of magnitude of microorganisms within 24 hours.
The IGF-project 15110 N of the research association European Cleaning and Hygiene Technology Research Association, Campus Fichtenhain 11, D-47807 Krefeld, was supported via the AiF within the funding programme „Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung und –entwicklung (IGF)“ by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology (BMWi) due to a decision of the German Parliament.
The research report is available on request from FRT.